Pacers Season Reviews: Cory Joseph’s season defined by his defense
By Ben Pfeifer
Cory Joseph’s provided stability for the Indiana Pacers even when his shot stopped falling. The question is now if he has a future with the team.
The Indiana Pacers, as a whole, are underappreciated. Playing in a market like Indianapolis, this has always been the case. This season, nothing is different.
Even when Victor Oladipo was healthy, few viewed Indiana in the same way as the East’s big four clubs. When Oladipo’s injury hit, nobody paid the Pacers any attention, dismissing them altogether.
Around the league, Pacers are underappreciated. Despite being one of the best defenders in the NBA, he rarely makes an appearance on any All-defensive team predictions. However, the least appreciated Indiana Pacer, even by their own fans, is Cory Ephram Joseph.
It is easy for a less in-tune fan to dismiss Joseph’s impact and value on this Pacers team. Most will look past the invaluable minutiae and head straight to Joseph’s unimpressive counting stats. 6.5 points per game, 3.9 assists per game, 3.4 rebounds per game. Meh.
In his second season as the Pacers’ backup point guard, Joseph continued to be a stable force on one of the league’s best benches. Cory Joseph’s impact goes so much further than the box score and he was vital to Indiana’s success this season.
His defense is immeasurably valuable for the Indiana Pacers; he is a tone-setter for a team whose identity is built on toughness and defense. While his game may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, the value he brings to the Pacers is. And with that, let’s recap Cory Joseph’s 2018-19 season.